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The Retirement Years
it to God’s cause. Many of our sisters earn good wages, but it is nearly
all spent in gratifying their pride of dress.
The wants of the cause will continually increase as we near the
close of time. Means is needed to give young men a short course of
study in our schools, to prepare them for efficient work in the ministry
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and in different branches of the cause. We are not coming up to our
privilege in this matter. All schools among us will soon be closed
up. How much more might have been done had men obeyed the
requirements of Christ in Christian beneficence! What an influence
would this readiness to give all for Christ have had upon the world! It
would have been one of the most convincing arguments in favor of the
truth we profess to believe—an argument which the world could not
misunderstand nor gainsay....
Let us individually go to work to stimulate others by our example
of disinterested benevolence. The work might have gone forward with
far greater power had all done what they could to supply the treasury
with means.—
Testimonies for the Church 5:154-157
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Business Affairs at Loose Ends?
Brother and Sister L should have confidence in the work for these
last days, and should be perfecting Christian character, that they may
receive the eternal reward when Jesus comes. Brother L is failing in
physical and mental vigor. He is becoming incapable of bearing much
responsibility. He should counsel with his brethren who are discreet
and faithful.
Brother L is a steward of God. He has been intrusted with means,
and should be awake to his duty, and render to God the things that are
God’s. He should not fail to understand the claims that God has upon
him. While he lives, and has his reasoning powers, he should improve
the opportunity of appropriating the property that God has intrusted
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to him, instead of leaving it for others to use and appropriate after the
close of his life.
Satan is ever ready to take advantage of the weaknesses and infir-
mities of men to suit his own purposes. He is a wily adversary, and
has outgeneraled many whose purposes were good to benefit the cause
of God with their means. Some have neglected the work that God has
given them to do in appropriating their means. And while they are